Solutions for Common Pregnancy Complaints
17 January 2010 at 1:47 am by admin (artikel)
Solutions for Common Pregnancy Complaints
There are many changes that take place in a woman’s body when she becomes pregnant and as the baby grows within her. There are also many resources that detail the “complaints of pregnancy.” Virtually every pregnancy book lists these complaints and offers solutions for them. I will concentrate on those most often presented in my practice, and the solutions most of my clients find helpful.
Nausea
The increased hormones in pregnancy cause over-production of stomach acids. I recommend eating every two to three hours, even through the night. Keeping something in the stomach seems to minimize the effect of these acids. Also, either drinking mint or ginger tea or sucking on mint or ginger candy or chewing mint or ginger gum often provides a calming effect on the stomach.
Leg Cramps
Try eating a baked potato with sour cream or have a banana with a glass of milk at bedtime. Or take a potassium supplement and consider also a supplement of calcium citrate with vitamin D and magnesium (this will have the added benefit of helping you sleep better when taken within an hour of bedtime).
Indigestion or Heartburn
Eat small meals (eat something every couple of hours rather than concentrating on three meals a day), and limit spicy and greasy foods. Try slowly chewing a pinch of raw oatmeal when experiencing discomfort. Antacids are an option but I suggest limiting their use.
Headaches
Headaches are another side effect of the increased hormones of pregnancy. Ensure consumption of at least 75 to 100 grams of protein a day, a minimum of two liters of water each day, and some form of regular exercise. Many women find relief with essential oils. My favorite is a drop or two of peppermint oil on the temples. If the headaches persist, an over-the-counter pain reliever is an option, but I encourage limiting their use. Occasionally one of my moms benefits from a progesterone cream.
There are many discomforts that can be experienced in a normal, healthy pregnancy. Most of them can be dealt with relatively easily. The good news is that they do not last forever!
To get more information about pregnancy complaints, please visit my website: TheMidwivesOnline.com
Hi there. My name is Paula Schnebelt and I’m a professional midwife. My practice supports women who want to birth naturally in the comfort of their own homes and women who want holistic, compassionate gynecological care. I’m committed to helping you have the birth you want in a safe and loving space, empowered in your innate ability to bring forth life.
I am a California Licensed Midwife and a North American Registry of Midwives Certified Professional Midwife. I’m certified in NeoNatal Resuscitation and Healthcare Providers’ CPR, and I’m a member of the Midwives Alliance of North America (MANA), and the California Association of Midwives (CAM).
Midwifery first called to me when I became pregnant with my second daughter and discovered the difficulty of finding a midwife who would support and attend me in having a homebirth. The midwife I finally found after much searching suggested I apprentice so I could assist other women in my community who might also desire to explore homebirth as an option.
I am blessed with five beautiful daughters and am married to a local carpenter. Three of my children were born at home and the last was a waterbirth. Having experienced both hospital and homebirth, I feel uniquely qualified to serve laboring women in the pursuit of their desired way to birth.
